Cabinet structure



1963 A. E. CU LLEN ETYAL 3,114,364

' CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 2, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,114,364 QAEENET STRUCTURE Albert E. Cullen, Warminst-er, and Edward T. Franzen, Peririomenville, 1 s., assigno's, by mesne assignments, to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pin, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 2, 1969, Ser. No. 66,575 4 Claims. Il. 126-191) This invention relates to cabinet structure, and more particularly is concerned with compartment door mounting structures of the type wherein the door is hinged at its bottom edge so that it can pivot between a vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position. While of broader applicability, the invention has particular utility in the field of cooking ranges.

Gven compartments of cooking ranges normally are provided with front access openings and are closed by doors or panels cooperating to present a substantial y vertical surface. These doors normally are of such relatively heavy construction, in order that they might withstand heavy usage as to require counterbalancing in the various pivotal positions thereof. Also, in ovens of the type having provision for both baking and broiling, mechanism must be provided to limit the degree of door closure in accordance with the selected mode of cooking. For example when baking it is desirable that the door beheld tightly closed to prevent the escape of heat from the oven, whereas in broiling it is desirable that the door be held slightly ajar in order to vent the oven and to keep it from being unduly heated. Still further it is desirable to provide for quick removal of the door to clean the same after periods of usage.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide simple and effective oven door mounting means that affords the above described features of operation and construction.

It is another object of the invention to provide inexpensive hinge mechanism particularly characterized by ease of assembly both to the door and to the cabinet.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of combined door hinging and counterbalancing mechanism characterized by simplicity of construction and ease of assembly to the door and cabinet structure.

It is also an object of the invention to provide hinge mechanism upon which doors of various types, for example doors with or without glass windows, may be interchange t In accordance with the foregoing as well as other objectives, the invention contemplates, in cooking range structure, the provision of an oven compartment having an access opening and a door therefor with hinge means providing for removable mounting of the door and about which the door is pivotally movable relative to the range structure. The hinge means advantageously includes means providing for counterbalancing the door when the door is in an open position as well as means providing 7 for locking of the door to the hinge except when the door is moved to a predetermined partially open position. The hinge means is conditioned for release of the door therefrom while in said partially open position, and means is operative in response to removal of the door from the hinge means to provide for holding of the hinge means in the partially open position.

It is an important feature of the invention that actuation of the means for locking the door to the hinge means and of the means providing for holding the hinge means in the last mentioned position is effected automatically in response, respectively, to movement of the door to a predetermined partially open position and to removal of the door from the hinge means.

For a more complete understanding of the invention,

ice

and of additional features and advantages characteristic thereof, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in light of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a domestic type electric cooking range embodying the invention and showing the oven door in its fully open position;

FEGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view. similar to FIGURE 1, showing some details of the right hand mechanism of the hinge means by which the door is mounted to the range in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE 2, as viewed from the right side, and showing additional details of construction;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing the door in a partially open position;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of the left hand hinge mechanism in the position corresponding to that position of the door shown in FIGURE 4, but with the door re moved;

FEGURE 6 is a showing similar to FIGURE 4 but with the door in its upright or closed position;

v FIGURE 7 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, looking in the direction of arrows 7- 7 as applied to FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view of apparatus seen in FIGURE 3 and looking in the direction of arrow 8-t3 applied thereto.

Now making more detailed reference to the drawings, and first to FEGURE 1 thereof, an electric cooking range ises a base portion 11 and atop cooking surface l2. Conventional surface heating elements of burners 13 are shown on the cooking top, which is also provided w t the customary control means lid for the various heating elements.

With additional reference to EEGURE 1, base portion ll of the range houses an open front compartment 15 comprisingan oven having side Walls 16, bottom wall 17 and rear Wall 13, and a top wall (not shown). T he front opening of the oven is substantially in the same plane as the front face El of base portion ll and is provided with a closure or door 22 which when closed occupies a substantially vertical position as shown in FIGURE 6.

The door 22, as seen for example in FIGURES 4 and 6, comprises an outer or front panel 23 and inner or rear panel 24. The edges of the front panel 23 include a peripheral flange 25- (PIGURE 7), While the inner panel is provided with an oppositely turned peripheral flange 26 which nests within the outer panel and may be secured to the inner side of flange 25 by known suitable means. The panels thus cooperate to form hollow door structure, the hollow space therebetween being filled with a suitable insulation as indicated at 27. An oven door window is defined by cooperative flanges 21 and 2% (FlGURE 2) provided on the door panels and is sealed by respective outer and inner heat resistant glass panels 23a and 24a.

It will be noted that the front wall or face 21 of base portion M is formed by part of its framework and defines door jamb structure comprising a flat marginal area completely surrounding the oven opening. The door is so configured as to cover this marginal area, when closed.

The door is hinged to pivot on a transverse horizontal between the vertical closed position, as seen in FIG- URE 6 and a substantially horizontal open position as seen in FIGURES l, 2 and 3, the hinging axis being located within the door structure adjacent the lower edge thereof.

With more particular reference to the hinging means, the latter comprises a pair of hinge mechanisms 3%, one positioned at each front lower corner of the oven exteriorly of the side walls 16 and adjacent the bottom wall 17. The hinging mechanisms are identical insofar as the relative positioning of elements thereof, it being understood of course that one is adapted for left hand positioning and the other for right hand positioning, and for the sake of convenience the details of but the right hand hinge mechanism are shown in all FIGURES of the drawing with the exception of FIGURE 5 which shows the left hand mechanism.

With reference particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3, it is seen that each hinge mechanism comprises a bracket portion 32 mounted to the front wall 21 of base If and an elongated shank portion 31 pivotally mounted at 36 to bracket portion 32 and extending therefrom.

With additional reference to FIGURES 7 and 8, the inner panel 24 of oven door 22 includes a slot or socket means 33 having an open portion 34 and a recessed portion 35 within which the shank portion 31 of the hinge is slidably received for mounting the door. Conveniently, recessed portion 35 of slot 33 comprises a channel member 37 having its open side presented toward the open portion 34 of the slot and affixed to the inner panel 24 along flanged portions 41 of the channel leg portions 42. The leg portions 42 have portions fiared outwardly, as seen at 43 (FIGURE 8), and substantially parallel to lower edges of door flanges 25 and 26. These flared portions 43, and adjacent portions of flange 26, are so positioned as to register with similarly flared portions 44 of hinge shank portion 31. As viewed in FIGURE 8, the left hand flared portions 43, 44 engage one another directly, whereas right hand flared portions 4 3, 44 engage one another through the intermcdiation of door fiange Z6. Flared portions 43 and 44 therefore provide for the main support of the door in ths substantially vertical position thereof, as well as insure proper positioning of the door on the hinge means and over the oven opening. It will be noted that shank portion 31 of the hinge is reversely bent, as seen best in FIGURE 5, whereby it engages inner wall portions of the slot 33, as best seen in FIGURE 7, in a spring like manner resiliently to provide a slight restraining force on the door.

With particular reference to FIGURES 2 and 3 range base portion 11 and hinge shank portion 31 also are interconnected by counterbalancing means 45. Means 45 includes a spring 46 affixed at one end to a frame portion 47 of range base portion 11. The other end of spring 46 is threadedly attached to a screw 51 extending through an aperture (not shown) provided in link 52 extending transverse the axis of spring 46. An elongated link 53 is pivotally afiixed, as seen at 54, to link 52 at a point spaced from screw 51. Link 53 extends through a slotted opening 55 in front face 21 of base portion 11 and is pinned, as seen at 56, to hinge shank portion 31. Rollers 57 are disposed adjacent upper and lower ends of opening 55, and, as seen in FIGURE 4, the upper one of rollers 57 is disposed to engage detent means 61 provided in link 53 resiliently to hold the door in its partially open or broil position. Similarly detent means 62 is provided in the upper edge of link 53 to engage the same one of rollers 57 and resiliently to hold the door in its closed position (FIGURE 6).

Another detent means 63 on the lower edge of link 53 is disposed to engage the lower one of rollers 57 to hold the door in its fully opened position as seen in FIGURES l, 2 and 3.

In particular accordance with one aspect of the invention, the end of link 53 which is pivotally connected to hinge shank portion 31 at 56 has a rounded portion 64 and an angular, protruding portion 65 adjacent thereto. In the position of the door shown in FIGURES 3, 7 and 8, and in any intermediate position up to that shown in FIGURE 4, protruding portion 65 of link 53 is disposed within a slot 33 provided in web portion of channel member 37. Presence of portion 65 of the link within slot 38 effectively locks the door to hinge shank portion 31 to which link 53 is pinned.

Movement of the door to the position shown in FIG- URE 4 causes protruding portion 65 to be withdrawn from slot 33, whereby the door is unlocked from hinge shank portion 31 and is conditioned for upward sliding removal from the hinge, to expose the latter as seen in FIGURE 5.

An additional important aspect of the invention resides in provision of safety stop means 65 operative between positions shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, and effective in the position shown in the latter figure to ensure holding of hinge shank portion 31 substantially in the position shown. Stop means 66 comprises a cam-like stop member 67 adapted to pivot on pin '71. Member 67 is generally rhombic in shape and is rotatable, upon sliding of the door onto hinge shank portion 31, by carnming engagement with channel member 37 as it slides along the shank portion, to the retracted rest position shown in FIGURE 4. It will be noted that location of pin 71 is offset toward the front panel of the door relative to the center of gravity of stop member 67. Therefore removal of the door, when in the partially open broil position shown in FIGURE 4, disengages the latter from member 67 whereupon the weight of the member pivots it clockwise to the position shown in FIGURE 5. This locking position is determined by stop pin 72 positioned on hinge shank portion 31 to be engaged by a detent 73 on stop member 67. While, in the position of the shank portion 31shown in FIGURE 4, detent 61 of link 53 engages upper roller 57 to hold portion 31 in such position, the presence of stop member 67 in the position shown in FIGURE 5 will effectively ensure against accidental movement of shank portion 31 toward face 21 of the range, with consequent possible damage thereto. Also, holding of the shank portions 31 in the position shown in FI'GURE 5 will also ensure ease of installation of the door.

It will therefore be appreciated that actuation of the safety stop means 65 is automatic in response to removal and installation of the door. Also actuation of the doorto-hinge lock is automatic in response to moving of the door between a full open and the partially closed, broil position of the door. Still further it will be appreciated that the hereinbefore disclosed invention achieves both a latching and a counterbalancing force from linkage means requiring but a single force producing spring.

As respects adjustment of the tension of spring 46, the head of screw 51 is within cup washer 74 and movable, upon opening the door to the position shown in FIG- URES 1, 2, and 3, to a position wherein it is substantially aligned with slot 55. The outwardly presented cup washer 74 is disposed under the head of screw 51, in the manner of a fiat washer. This cup washer therefore affords blind adjustment of the screw, to adjust the spring tension, from the front of the range by means of a screw driver, or the like, inserted through slot 55 and guided to the screw head by the funnel-like action of the washer. Adjustment in this manner is of course accommodated, by virtue of the Offset between the spring axis and the link53 as provided by transverse link 52. It will be noted, therefore, that the invention further achieves provision for adjusting the door counterbalancing means conveniently and effectively from the front of the range. This is particularly advantageous when changing from a windowless to a relatively heavy windowed type door, or vice versa, as often is done in the course of demonstrating a range.

While but a single preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in a cooking range it will be understood that the invention may take such other forms as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination, door jamb structure, a door including a channel having a web portion and leg portions cooperatively disposed to define socket means, hinge means including a shank portion pivotally mounted upon said door ainb structure, said shank portion being releasably insertable into said socket means to provide hinge support for said door upon said door jamb structure, means for releasably locking said door to said pivotally mounted shank portion in response to pivotal movements of said door between a pair of positions, stop means, and means pivotally mounting said stop means upon said shank portion of the hinge means so that said stop means is forcibly pivotable to a retnacted position within said socket means and is gravitationally pivotable to a projected hinge stop position, said stop means being engageable by the channel web portion of said door socket means upon insertion of said shank portion into said socket means to mount said door thereby to move said stop means to its retracted position, said stop means further being diseng-ageable by said socket means upon removal of the door from said shank portion in one of said pair of door positions to provide for the recited pivotal gravitational movement of said stop means to a position wherein a portion thereof extends between said pivotally mounted shank portion and said door jamb structure and prevents movement of said pivotally mounted shank portion from the said one of said pair of positions.

2. The combintion according to claim 1, and characterized in that said stop means is nivotable about a region spaced from its center or gravity, and the recited means pivotally mounting said stop means provides for elevation of its center of gravity, upon engagement by said channel web portion, to a position in which the center of gravity is above the pivotal mounting, the center of gravity in the last recited position being efiective to exert a moment of force about the pivotal mounting of said stop means operative to restore it to the extended position in which it prevents movement of the shank portion.

3. In combination,door jamb structure, a door, hinge means including a hinge plate portion pivotally mounted upon said door jamb structure, said plate portion being releasably engageable with said door to provide hinged support thereof upon said door jamb structure, means for releasably locking said door to said hinge plate portion in response to pivotal movements of said door between a pair of positions, a stop member for said hinge plate portion, and means pivotally mounting said stop member to' said hinge plate portion so that said stop member is forcibly pivotable to a retracted position and is gravitationally pivotable to an extended position in which it is positioned for engagement with said door jamb structure, said stop member being engageable by said door, upon aifixation of the door to said hinge plate portion, thereby to move said stop member to its retracted position, said stop member further being disengageable by said door, upon and in response to detachment of said door from said plate portion in one of said pair of door positions, to provide for the recited pivotal gravitational movement of said stop member to its extended position in which latter position a portion of said stop member extends between said pivotally mounted hinge plate portion and said door jamb structure, and prevents movement of said pivotally mounted plate portion from the said one of said pair of positions.

4. The combination according to claim 3, characterized in that said stop member when in its retracted posi tion is disposed substantially in a plane defined generally by said door and said hinge plate portion, and when in extended position projects transversely of the same general plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,780,219 Polluck Feb; 5, 1957 2,847,117 Berge et a1. July 8, 1958 2,873,737 Sherman Feb. 17, 1959 2,934,059 Baker Apr. 26, 1960 3,003,495 Coultrip Oct. 10, 1961 

1. IN COMBINATION, DOOR JAMB STRUCTURE, A DOOR INCLUDING A CHANNEL HAVING A WEB PORTION AND LEG PORTIONS COOPERATIVELY DISPOSED TO DEFINE SOCKET MEANS, HINGE MEANS INCLUDING A SHANK PORTION PIVOTALLY MOUNTED UPON SAID DOOR JAMB STRUCTURE, SAID SHANK PORTION BEING RELEASABLY INSERTABLE INTO SAID SOCKET MEANS TO PROVIDE HINGE SUPPORT FOR SAID DOOR UPON SAID DOOR JAMB STRUCTURE, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID DOOR TO SAID PIVOTALLY MOUNTED SHANK PORTION IN RESPONSE TO PIVOTAL MOVEMENTS OF SAID DOOR BETWEEN A PAIR OF POSITIONS, STOP MEANS, AND MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID STOP MEANS UPON SAID SHANK PORTION OF THE HINGE MEANS SO THAT SAID STOP MEANS IS FORCIBLY PIVOTABLE TO A RETRACTED POSITION WITHIN SAID SOCKET MEANS AND IS GRAVITATIONALLY PIVOTABLE TO A PROJECTED HINGE STOP POSITION, SAID STOP MEANS BEING ENGAGEABLE BY THE CHANNEL WEB PORTION OF SAID DOOR SOCKET MEANS UPON INSERTION OF SAID SHANK PORTION INTO SAID SOCKET MEANS TO MOUNT SAID DOOR THEREBY TO MOVE SAID STOP MEANS TO ITS RETRACTED POSITION, SAID STOP MEANS FURTHER BEING DISENGAGEABLE BY SAID SOCKET MEANS UPON REMOVAL OF THE DOOR FROM SAID SHANK PORTION IN ONE OF SAID PAIR OF DOOR POSITIONS TO PROVIDE FOR THE RECITED PIVOTAL GRAVITATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID STOP MEANS TO A POSITION GRAVITATIONAL PORTION THEREOF EXTENDS BETWEEN SAID PIVOTALLY MOUNTED SHANK PORTION AND SAID DOOR JAMB STRUCTURE AND PREVENTS MOVEMENT OF SAID PIVOTALLY MOUNTED SHANK PORTION FROM THE SAID ONE OF SAID PAIR OF POSITIONS. 